Green glass

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was one of seven companies recognized by the Glass Packaging Institute recently for reducing consumption through its sustainable recycling and manufacturing practices.

The institute recognized the brewing company as a “Friend of Glass” for its innovative efforts in recycling glass for “bottle-to-bottle” use, according to the institute’s Web site.

Sierra Nevada uses glass packaging and kegs for its line of specialty brews, and prevented more than 600,000 pounds of glass from entering landfills in 2008.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Friend of Glass and look forward to helping increase and promote glass-container recycling,” said Cory Ross, packaging manager at the brewing company.